Settlers in America

The settlers of the new world all came from an area which had similar traditions, lifestyles and practices. Because of this, there were many similarities between different colonies in the New World. In contrast, these settlements were often established by people of different religions and ethnicities. This resulted in slight differences in the way communities carried out their daily lives. Two settlements that are simple to compare and contrast are the Jamestown and Plymouth settlements.

Traveling aboard the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery, 104 men landed in Virginia in 1607 at a place they named Jamestown. This was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. They chose their spot in a location they thought would be secure in order to avoid the mistakes of Roanoke. Jamestown offered anchorage and a good defensive position. Warm climate and fertile soil allowed large plantations to prosper. Unfortunately, the land was also marshy, humid, and disease-...